March 14, 2007

Championship's winner interview.
Interviewed person : Ryan Gilmore.
Ryans details : Ryan Anthony Gilmore, RAG, 18, Manchester United Kingdom

Q : How are your feelings towards winning this title ?
A : Completely WOW! Before I speak about my feelings I first want to thank you and Mathieu for putting on such a great season. Also to the league sponsors NaturalPoint for aiding BeRacing to be one of the best leagues in the rFactor world. Its been a great season for me personally, as today is actually the anniversary of my first ever step into simulation. My first day out in the online simulation mode, I ended up being last and 7laps down with 4pits for damage changes. I was out for much of last year because my PC wasn't up for the job. But when I came back it was when the Meganes were dominating rFactor, these cars were just right for me to get up to grips with the sim world. I ended up becoming quite fast at these cars so after the end of the season I was looking for a serious challenge with the cars to build up experience. And this is where I found BeRacing. I really cannot believe it that I have won the championship, over the past few race meetings since Nurburgring I had been putting on alot of un-needed pressure on myself to get her done. I will always remember this season for its up and downs.

Q : Did you expect to compete for the title when you entered the championship ?
A : Well if I'm honest before the first major test sessions got under way I was quite big headed which could be shown on the forum thinking I would be able to do it. But once the first test session & first race meeting got underway, I had a big shock and new that this is going to be a long tough season. But after how I drove at Nurburgring I started to think that I could actually possibly win this series.

Q : The fight for the title was very close and intense and was decided during the last race, With Damian so close and pushing you to the limits, did you ever thought you would not make it ?
A : Oh definatley, Damian is no slouch he can turn it on when he needs to. I think up till an hour before Barcelona kicked off I was righting of my chances of the title. With 20kg more than my nearest competitor I wasn't really looking forward to it. But after seeing the Free Practises sessions the nerves were reduced and in the first race, I tried to make the comeback of all comebacks from Damian to be very very slim by finishing in front of him. This was going to plan until his engine blew during the race. As you may see in the season highlights video I was estatic when I was crossing the line. It was such a surreal moment.

Q : A season always has ups and downs. What brings back the best memories, and what was your worst moment ?
A : Hmmm well my down has got to be Misano. I was really ill for this race meeting and surprised I had reached to the finish line in both races. I just wanted to narrow the damage of not turning up. My best memories has firstly got to be when I scored my first career win at Istanbul. The qualifying lap also has to be up there, the congratulations was going out towards Mathieu unknowing that I had just crossed the line in time to set my true qualifying lap. It had to be one of the most scruffiest laps in my career but the speed I was pulling out of it was crazy. Another big moment for me was Nurburgring. For some reason, it doesn't matter which car it is I am able to produce some crazy speed out of this track. It was actually one of the easiest races I had done due to having no weight on my shoulders to get a win. I managed to take a crazy amount of points from this race to build a gap in the championship which never was reduced. And of course winning the championship.

Q : With 4 wins and 3 pole positions you where clearly one of the fastest people on track in most of the races. Do you have any hint or tips for the other people. We are sure alot of people would be able to learn alot of you.
A : Well firstly, for meganes, pads rule! I love using my wheel and I can get some more time out of it. But as you all know I have been using a game pad all season long. Damian will agree with me for races for the length that the Megane Championship run, we do not loose as much time as some people think with using a pad. As the tires don't really tend to loose so much grip and using a pad generates alot of heat, we can get on the pace almost straight away even with a big weight we have to haul. But really I think the main thing about my sucess is understanding the car, knowing what corner comes first. When you see me on track, I'm not really altering my setup too much. I tend to get the basics done first and then work out the gears. Which is the best way to work the car to the track. Then I will start tickering with the setup to see if I can make a few 1000ths in a corner. It all adds up and after a little while it reduces the testing from 500laps to just around 10laps. I think the most important thing is to know the track alot, you will see that F1 tracks I will be alot faster than I am at non-f1 tracks for the simple being I know what comes where.

Q :Your team RAG, became second in the championship. Which title had your priority ? And would you swap your title for the Teams trophy?
A : Hmmm its a hard question to answer for sure its a great honour for the prize. But I think either championship under the team name is great. Even if it wasn't me that won it. Anything that shows that the team has done well this season either drivers or team championship is a great honor in its own right. And really is it that bad that we finsihed runners up?

Q : Simracing is still in the early stages of becoming professional appreciated by the big audience. Alot of people still think that it is just about picking a car and race. Do you think that league's like ours who try to simulate the real thing as close as possible will help in changing this ?
A : Totally just look at FPS shooter LAN Tournaments now they are fetching big prizefunds for up to $1million USD. It is the leagues that try to simulate stuff as much as possible are the ones that are partnering up with sponsors. Sponsors such as Naturalpoint wouldn't be interested if they didn't think it was worth it. I don't see many if any leagues that are sponsored that make up silly rules such as 3xtire wear for a 20minute race so that you have to pit every 2 god damm laps. There is a league I race in at the moment its got some completely stupid rules and wondering why they get low turnouts...

Q : Naturalpoint has been supporting BeRacing heaps. How are your feelings towards of them ?
A : Well if i'm honest I was in the market for a TrackIR when I found out about BeRacing as they were simulating the megane season thats when I signed myself up. I think its great that simulation is now getting more known. Its not necessarily receiving prizes such as the TrackIR which is why its great that NaturalPoint are support us. Its more to do with the extra help in terms of focusing us to be more professional and having a secure stable server allows up to make sure we can make it as real as it can get, for the time being at least hehe.

Q : By winning this title, you have earned yourself a TrackIr Pro 4 with the new TrackclipPro extension. We hope you will enjoy this product as many other people already do !
A : Definatly! I hope to receive mine this comming Monday so I'll make sure I give a review of the product. But I know I'm sure to like it as it will allow me to become even better than I am at SimRacing.

Q : Will you enter the next BeRacing trophy, and what are your future plans?
A : Too right. I've brought in a second team to join in with the BeRacing Naturalpoint FBMW Championship and now just teamed up with another BeRacing champion, Joeri, in completely new territory. Also I have signed up to a few seasons aside from BeRacing to make sure I can get as much experience under my belt as possible. Plus the fun-factor which is the main reason I spend alot of time in what I do.

Q : Naturalpoint is now sponsoring the BeRacing dedicated server. This server is exclusive for BeRacing and Naturalpoint members and gives you and many other people the chance to have online simracing at its best. How do you feel about this initiative, and will you make use of it ?
A : Hell yeah! I've been onit for a few hours this week to make sure I can get some good practise for the upcoming season and when I receive my Track IR I will continue with the testing.

Thank you for your time and see you on track !
A: No thank you beracing and your partners. I hope we can have another great season.